2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Royal Oak, MI vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Santa Cruz or is it cheaper to live in Royal Oak?
- Santa Cruz is 77.3% more expensive than Royal Oak.

Which city has more affordable housing, Santa Cruz or Royal Oak?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 331.0% more expensive than Royal Oak housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Royal Oak or is Health Care more affordable in Santa Cruz.
- Health related expenses are 36.7% more in Santa Cruz.
 Royal Oak, MISanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock186.0100
 Food & Groceries98.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock109.2100
 Housing97.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock110.5100
 Miscellaneous125.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Royal Oak    20 Reviews

Whoever put crime and urban decay as cons for Royal Oak has never been to Royal Oak. It is a very stable and safe suburb with a lot to do and access to many job  More

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Over 14 years ago

Michigan willturn around as soon as they break the bonds with the car companies.  More

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Over 15 years ago

Fun growing  More

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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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